Medicinal plants used in the traditional management of dog bites by herbalists in Eastern, Western, and Central Uganda

Background: Dog bites arise due to man’s casual and tactical association with dogs, it is a global health challenge. Rural semi-urban communities are the most affected since accessing conventional post-exposure prophylaxis nearly myth. As an alternative, readily available affordable medicinal plants used. Indigenous knowledge about such limited specialized herbalists, continuous modernization of African societies, loss anticipated if not documented. Therefore, used manage dog in Eastern, Western, Central Uganda were Methods: Snowball sampling was identify herbalists. An interview guide collect ethnobotanical data from June 2021 December 2022. The information collected included; names used, plant parts, methods preparation, mode administration. Descriptive analyzed using relative frequency citation (RFC) index informant consensus factor (FIC). Results: A total 31 plants, belonging 20 families 30 genera documented, majority family Solanaceae. commonly were: Baccharoides lasiopus (O.Hoffm.) H.Rob., Gymnanthemum thomsonianum (Oliv. & Hiern ex Oliv.) Rhoicissus tridentata (L.f.) Wild R.B.Drumm, Phytolacca dodecandra L'Hér., Nicotiana tabacum L. Leaves parts. main preparation infusion. Oral topical major modes Herbs obtained wild conservation strategy planting around home compounds gardens. RFC ≤ 0.27, FIC 0.19. Conclusion: Specialized herbalists possess vast indigenous on utilization Uganda. However, there need for scientific justification traditional therapeutic claim, bid find novel bioactive which can act as drug leads development drugs treatment bite-related infections. Keywords: bites, Medicinal Traditional management,